Bridge score and contract indicator



@ct. 25, 1938. a. H. GIBBS BRIDGE SCORE AND CONTRACT INDICATOR Filed June 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor BRIDGE SCORE AND CONTRACT INDICATOR Filed June 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Htnrneug Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES an on PATENT OFFHCE BRIDGE SCORE AND CONTRACT INDICATQR Benjamin Hugh Gibbs, Phoenix, Ariz. Application June 10, 1937, Serial No. 147,553

2 Claims.

This invention, denominated a bridge score and contract indicator, is particularly adapted to facilitate the various steps and progress in bidding and playing the card games of auction and contract bridge.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character provided with means for indicating the bid, and for showing whether or not the contract has been doubled or redoubled; and the invention, together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a face view of a trump disc.

Figure 5 is a similar view of what may be termed a bid disc.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the device comprises an easel indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 and embodies a base plate 6 which in the present instance is substantially rectan gular in form, and a supporting leg 1 hinged to the back of the plate 6 as at 8 and provided at its hinged end with an abutment 9 that limits the outward movement of the supporting leg 1 relative to the plate 6.

Rotatably supported on the plate 6 and. disposed at the rear side of the plate, adjacent the upper right hand corner of the plate, is a trump disc l0 rotatable about a rivet H as an axis. On one face thereof, and as shown in Figure 4, the trump disc H] has arranged in a circular series thereon, the letters D, H, S, NT, and C, indicating respectively, the various trumps such as diamonds, hearts, spades, no trump, and clubs. Above the pivot H, the plate 6 is provided with a sight window i2 and obviously by rotating the disk ID the proper trump indicia is brought into view opposite the window l2.

Also pivoted at the back of the plate 6 and adjacent the upper left hand corner of the-plate through the medium of a rivet I3, is the bid disc M which on one face thereof, and as shown in Figure 5, is equipped with a circular series of numerals from 1 to 7 inclusive, to show the number of tricks bid. Above the pivot IS the plate 6 is provided with a sight window l5 through which a selected numeral on which the discli may be viewed when said numeral, by rotation of the disc, is brought into position opposite the window l5.

Disposed on the front side of the plate 5 and secured thereto through the medium of paper ;5 clips of the prong type or any other suitable fastening elements i6 is book ll of conventional score sheets on which will be noted the score as made.

At the upper edge thereof plate 5 is provided l0 with a suitable clip 3 for conveniently holding a pencil i9.

A feature of the present invention is in providing the plate E5 above the pad I! with a slot l9 elongated transversely of the plate 6. Secured 15 to the plate 6 at the back side thereof, and in operative position to the slot is are L-shaped indicia bearing plates 28, 2!. For each plate 29, 2!, there is provided a hinge, one leaf 22 of which is suitably secured to the rear side of the plate 20 6, and the other leaf 23 of which is suitably secured to the rear side of one flange of a plate 29, or 2 l, as the case may be.

The plate 2!! on one flange thereof is provided with the letters RE, while the other plate, in 25 the present instance, the plate 2!, on one flange thereof is equipped with the letters DBL. It will thus be seen that when a bid has been doubled, the plate 2l will be swung to the position shown in Figure 1 so that the flange thereof 30 carrying the letters DBL will be brought into view through the slot 9 thus conveying the information to all concerned that the particular bid has been doubled. Should the bid be redoubled, plate 20 is swung to the position shown 35 in Figure 1 so that the flange thereon bearing the letters RE is brought into alignment with the letter equipped flange of the plate 2! so that by reading the indicia on the plates 29, 2|, all concerned will note that the bid has been re- 40 doubled.

From the above, it will be appreciated that with a device of this character, all the possible bids from 1 to 7 inclusive, and all the possible trumps, from clubs to no trumps, may be clearly and 45 conspicuously seen by all the players, In addition, by glancing at the device the players may readily note whether or not the contract has been doubled or redoubled as the case may be.

Also, by providing the score-sheet pad ll there 50 will be clearly and conspicuously available to each of the players at all times, information as to the exact stage to which the game or rubber has progressed. Each player at all times can readily see whether he and his partner are vul- 55 nerable or whether the opposing players are, and whether he and his partner, or his opponents have part score on game; all of which is very highly desirable, if not quite essentially necessary to enable the players properly to bid. As is well known, such information is' of very considerable value, not only to the tyro and amateur, but also to the expert and master player.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility, and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

It is also to be understood that the embodiment of the device herein illustrated is merely suggestive and that consequently it is in no wise intended to restrict the invention to the par-' ticular details herein illustrated and described,

other than may be necessary in view of the prior art and scope of the appended claims; and in this connection it may be herein pointed out that, for example, instead of using letters on the disc III to indicate the various trumps the conventional trump indicia for the four suites, namely, hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades, may be used. Also, and as shown the discs l0 and [4 may be slightly concaved so that adjacent their respective peripheral edges they will have bearing contacts with the base plate 5 in a manner to frictionally retain the discs in the position of adjustment to which they may be moved, and against casual rotation. Also the peripheral edges of the discs I!) and I4 may be milled or otherwise roughened as shown to facilitate the turning thereof, and in this connection it will be further observed that the peripheries of the respective discs project laterally beyond the side edges of the base plate 5 so as to be readily engaged by the finger of the operator to further facilitate the turning of the discs.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a bridge score and contract indicator, a base plate provided with a slot elongated transversely thereof, L-shaped indicia bearing plates hingedly mounted on said base plate at the rear side of the latter and adjacent the lower edge of said slot whereby upon swinging movement of a plate a selected flange thereof is positioned to view across said slot.

2. In a bridge score and contract indicator, a base plate provided with a slot elongated transversely thereof, L-shaped indicia bearing plates hingedly mounted on said base plate at the rear side of the latter and adjacent the lower edge of said slot whereby upon swinging movement of a plate a selected flange thereof is positioned to view across said slot, one of said L-shaped plates having on one flange thereof the notation DBL to indicate double", and the other of said L-shaped plates having on one flange thereof the notation RE adapted to be read in conjunction with the first mentioned notation to indicate redouble.

BENJAMIN HUGH GIBBS. 

